Johann: Atma thinks it's always the first sunday in June with is used to remind people at large to reflect on the goodness of ones father(s) and to use the day for honor and veneration. May all take this opputunity well and if still alive, of which is not for sure, still possible to personal approach, such is a blessing and not good if not used. Mudita

Johann: [continue] ...kāma-guṇa (sensual giving) , death, alive, increasing the cemeteries in the world. This is why just giving toward the virtuous, those with metta, bears fruits beyond the common, as it's not for further kāma-guṇa that they would use it for, but as base for lessons, for purificatio

Johann: If one would know or remembering the suffering behind pleasing form, sound, smell, taste, touch, one certain would no more desire after it. But because lof lack of remembering and proper attention, beings go after it, take birth, age, get sick, seperated, die, again and again, keeping the flame of k

Johann: If ones sacrifices, generosity, isn't protected by a good closed tank, less fruits can be expected. And what is the tank made of? Saddha, Pasada, metta, Sila, intention for own and others independency.

Johann: Nothing more a blessing as to do not cling to a specific Nikaya, since one can easy take the opportunity of doing theUposatha often two days a new. May all always make the best of given possibilities.

Depabhasadhamma: I am in need of assistance. I am writing a paper about the Three Marks of Existence. I understand the three marks, however, I am befuddled by the meaning and use of the word "existence." Is this English word the translation of the Pali word thiti? Does the word "existence" imply life, living, consci

Johann: Temporary ordination is pretty normal, 3 days, a month, a Vassa... and not to forget that the Buddha promised union with the Asparas, which are beyond being compareable to others...

2020 May 09 19:25:54

Moritz: No no, I really prefer to be a householder, even though not having a house at the moment. I am not much inclined towards nekkhamma... ... even though already doing some nekkhamma now, but not hoping to do so for the long term....

Yesterday Stepson did the second stage whil on almsround quick in the cool for-middays. Today, alone, without his son, the last till the top, for about 50 bricks (25 walks up and down). A foundation for bath and water basin has also been made at last time.

Having got the impression of more active fence rebuilding this days, and looking down, seeing a real large excavator working from the place where the neighbor in the south started his fence, south of the near settlement, working toward south, along the street, followed by a smaller machine, it looks like they had started to build a/the road up here into the inner of the still lasting heart of the Aural region.

The days of shadow and pleasant walk while on alms, might be counted, but maybe last a little in the north, since working downward from here, right from the possible future side road to the Ashram along the new fence.

May as many as possible get not harmed, do not lose there dwellings and former possessions while this work. May the Devas protect all as good as possible and may wise people protect the dwellings and shadows not at least for the Devas, but for all when in states of homelessness, seeking for rest, shadow and dwelling on their ways.

To keep ways pleasant for worthy ones and to leave place for the Devas and shadows for travelers, dwelling for many beings:

It would be good, if not harming anyone, if the old and large and old trees from the middle village, in the old village and up to the north, which are on side of the land of the public street would get protected by those able to, especially not at least the "wild" Bodhitree, marked orange, as mentioned in previous post , if not alread cut away.

Having not really someone perceived who could, would, take care of the Bodhitree, Atma took the orange cloth which the Parisa of Wat Arkyum dedicated last new year to wrap the Buddha image, which has grown dirty and has been left over this year, and wrapped it around the tree in the morning, before alms-round, so that people would get aware of it, surrounded by the wild. Also some neighbors and villagers have been informed about it's existence and grow. Most more then pleased to get aware of it, wishing that he might not get victim in the war of conquer, in the destruction leaded in building streets for machines.

Today morning, as arrived at the street, all trees, young and old, along the old street had been already cut of and no more shadow all along toward south. How ever, the small area around the Bodhi tree still remained untouched till an hour ago.

Also the land, which has fence till today, which Atma used to access to the tiny path upward, has been cleared next the street for about 50m up.

Coming back from alms. two people worked to cut all away on this land. Asking of who they are, if they are the owner of the land. The man said "No". Asked them why they cut the forest here when not being the owner, they told that the owner told them to do so. Asked of who and where the owner is, he pointed to the neighbor north of the land and told that the owner is there to find, that they ordered him to do.

So my person went back to the house of the Brahman who was a follower of the Marxists and scientists, who disregards the monks, Gods and sublime and rejects that there are lower worlds as well. Approaching the house his wife raised up and stand on one side while the Brahman did not rise for his seat and left his feet on the table, asking unpleasing that my person may approach.

My person retold the question and answer-session with the wood cutters, telling them that he told that my person was told that the Brahman and his wife are the owners and now perceiving that this land is no more left over, grasped by the owner, whether it is welcome that my person would cross the land to come and go to the Ashram. After a for and back that made then clear that he is not the owner and that someone might have informed wrong, my person asked whether he has contact to the owner and he told that the owner is a sibling of him and that my person should not care much and go on to make use. Asking whether it is possible to ask the owner whether it is welcome or not, he said: "No need to care, it's someone else. Go on as before." As it is not proper to make use of what is grasped by others and not joyful given to use by the owner, my person ended the talk with sign that he had heard what he had said and walked on.

Remembering that the owner of the land south of the last land without fence had once given the useof crossing his land, which is done daily after having crossed the free land till the path, my person walked back to Upasaka Chanroths house, asking him whether the owner who had given way last year, has changed his mind or told something that might lead to assume that it is no further welcome. Telling that the owner did not express anything different, my person walked south and approached at the door of the path-owners house. His wife approached my person at the door and my person told her that he was informed last year, that her husband invited to make use of crossing his land to come to the Ashram. Quickly pleased she told that she is well informed, yes, and invited to cross their compound to reach the path.

So my person walked the some 80 meters through the pathless wild of their land next the street, to reach the path up to the Ashram without making use of the land without fence.

As it looks for now, people may not have any given way to come by bike or by motor-cow up to thee foot of the hill. How ever, one may make use to access the path by entering the young neighbors entrance, after having informed him about it and the reason.

Atma made a short round walk east-south and back. Very pleasing this days, silent, remote and a pleasing thornless forest. It seems as if the plantage neighbor had left an entrance possible at the level of the village priests daughters land, leading a path to the stone people common regard as Thmo Tuk, about 100m south east from the Ashram, behind the place the Upasikas desired to build a small hall, next the smaller hill which might be suitable for female recluses to dwell.

No wood cutter, no villagers, no visitors,, not even cows, children and buffaloes or what ever collector since a good time. Very pleasing, very remote and suitable this days.

If not familar, if not knowing the directions, even if 20m next the Ashram, one would not find it in this time and easy get lost in the forest around.

Although some faithful older Upasikas had tried to protect the Bodhi-Tree (as reported), such a tank-driver wouldn't stop on account of "low"-people, even drive over them in their delusion, the Tree has been uprooted and is gone, like many other dwellings, shadows and lives...

Atma had to think on the huge amount of akusala kamma the many tank-driver accumulate in their livelihood, not to speak of them who order them and those rejoicing in "development" of materialism.

It's not so that the Sangha and good get cut off from needed things, but people following the illusion of productivity cut them off from any way to escape for a long, long time.

I revere every stupa established in every place, every Relic of the Buddha's body, every Great Bodhi tree, every Buddha image that is an object of veneration.

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa

Conditions of a Nation's (communities) Welfare

..."What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor, esteem, and veneration towards their elders and think it worthwhile to listen to them?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

...

"What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor, esteem, and veneration towards their shrines, both those within the city and those outside it, and do not deprive them of the due offerings as given and made to them formerly?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do venerate their shrines, and that they do not deprive them of their offerings."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

..."This monastery, Sir, is left unprovided while the Tathāgata goes on pilgrimage, and there is no place for the people to do reverence by offering fragrant wreaths and garlands. Will you be so kind, Sir, as to tell the Tathāgata of this matter, and learn from him whether or no it is possible to find a place for this purpose." The other, nothing loth, did so, asking, "How many shrines are there?" —"Three, Ānanda." —"Which are they?" —"Shrines for a relic of the body, a relic of use or wear, a relic of memorial [202]" —"Can a shrine be made, Sir, during your life?" —"No, Ānanda, not a body-shrine; that kind is made when a Buddha enters Nirvāna. A shrine of memorial is improper because the connection depends on the imagination only. But the great bo-tree used by the Buddhas is fit for a shrine, be they alive or be they dead." —"Sir, while you are away on pilgrimage the great monastery of Jetavana °° is unprotected, and the people have no place where they can show their reverence. Shall I plant a seed of the great bo-tree before the gateway of Jetavana?" —"By all means so do, Ānanda, and that shall be as it were an abiding place for me."...

Some days ago Nyom Stepson brouth up some logs he collected in the deforestration-area on the hills foot. Today, before noon, both spend some hours to prepare for further brickworks on the upper future vihara/kuti.